Gingerbread

I claim no special baking expertise, mind: this is a combination of the two gingerbread recipes in the The Joy of Cooking. Plus a substition, b/c I didn't have molasses in the house. But it really did turn out well. No pepper, but I'll definitely add that next time--presumably about 1-2 tsp?

3 c. flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp ground fresh ginger (a fairly big chunk--if you store yours in the freezer, as you should, break off a chunk while you get the ingredients out, and by the time you get to the ginger it'll be thawed enough to peel. Then just toss it in your coffee grinder, but don't forget to clean the grinder afterwards)
2 tsp ground cinnamon (ground stick cinnamon is much yummier than pre-ground)
1/4 tsp ground cloves
zest of one lemon
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
maybe 1 tsp black pepper?

Toss all the dry stuff into a bowl, and mix it up. That's so the baking powder has time to rise a little while you're beating the wet ingredients.

3/4 stick (6 tbsp) butter, room temperature
3/4 cup dark brown sugar

Beat that until it's what the cookbooks call "fluffy," then add

1 egg
1 cup maple syrup (or molasses)

Once that's all combined, add half the dry mix and stir it in well. Stir the rest in, and knead into a ball. If it's too dry and crumbly, add about a tbsp of water until it's softer and manageable. If it's too soft, add a little flour, but ime it's more often dry than soft.

Toss the ball of dough into tupperware or wrap it in plastic and let it sit for a couple of hours while you do something else, like eat dinner. Or put it in the fridge overnight and come back to it the next day (but let it warm up to room temperature or it'll be too stiff to roll).

Roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick. I find that on with a wood countertop and rollingpin I don't need to dust the counter or dough, but better safe than sorry. Cut out the cookies, put 'em on baking sheets, decorate with little candies or raisins or something.

Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Makes a couple dozen cookies. Double the recipe if you're making a house.

If you want to frost them, make frosting out of half a stick of butter and 2 cups powdered sugar (sift the sugar! Yes, it's a pain, but lumpy frosting sucks.) Color with food coloring if you like.